Information on the different pathways you can take to get into business as well as the top educational institutions offering business qualifications.

As one of the world's largest and most influential markets, the United States is a natural choice for motivated and ambitious individuals who are interested in a business-related career. Below you will find information on the different pathways you can take to get into business as well as the top educational institutions offering business qualifications.

Business Colleges

Typically, business colleges differ from universities in that class sizes are smaller and the student-faculty ratio is larger. Below you will find a selection of the best-ranking business colleges in the United States.

Babson CollegeLocated in Massachusetts, Babson College offers undergraduate programs in business-related disciplines like Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Economics. Graduate programs are also available, from certificates to MBA level.

Boston CollegeBoston College offers a business honors program at the Carroll School of Management. Concentrations include Accounting, Corporate Reporting, Operations Management, and Management & Leadership.

Darmouth CollegeThe New Hampshire-based institution offers some of the country's best-rated business programs. In particular, Darmouth College is a top choice for those interested in pursuing an MBA qualification, which is offered at the Tuck School of Business.

Business Degrees

According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, there are more than 2,600 accredited higher education institutions all over the United States. Many of them offer 4-year undergraduate business degrees, so choosing the best institution can be a daunting task. Here's a selection of the best 5 business degrees taught at American universities right now:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Despite MIT's focus on tech degrees, the prestigious Cambridge-based institution is also recognized for the quality of its business degrees. Within MIT, there are certain degree majors that are particularly well-regarded by employers across the nation: majors in Management and Management Science with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Operations Management, and Management Information Systems; Business Analytics with a focus on Operations Research and Quantitative Analysis; and Product Design and Development.

University of PennsylvaniaBusiness degrees at the University of Pennsylvania are offered at the Wharton School. This institution is well known for the quality of its Business & Finance degrees, as well as for giving students the opportunity to access a flexible curriculum, particularly during their sophomore and junior years. All students who complete an undergraduate degree at Wharton receive a Bachelor of Science in Economics, along with a specialization in their chosen concentration. Some of the most popular concentrations available include Finance, Management, Insurance and Risk Management, and Operations, Information, and Decisions.

University of California at BerkeleyBusiness undergraduate programs at the University of California - Berkeley are taught at the Hass School of Business. This is a good choice for future business people who are interested in all aspects of management science and economic analysis. In addition to Business and Management degrees, the Hass School of Business offers a selection of special topic courses, which cover business-related subjects like Innovation and Design Thinking, Social Entrepreneurship, Sports Management, and Financial Engineering.

New York UniversityNew York University offers an undergraduate business program at the Stern School of Business. Students can choose to specialize in one of the 11 concentrations offered by the school, which include Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business Economics, Economic Theory, Finance, Global Business, Information Systems, Management and Organizations, Marketing Operations, and Statistics. In addition to the Bachelor of Science in Business, Stern School also offers an undergraduate degree in Business and Political Economy.

University of Michigan (Ann Harbour)The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business is well known for the breadth and depth of its undergraduate business degrees, and in particular with regards to concentrations in Finance, Marketing, and Management. Students have a wide range of electives to choose from, which range from the typical courses in Accounting, Finance, and Marketing to more unique specializations, such as those available in Consulting, Non-Profit and Social Impact, and Action-Based Learning.

In addition to the above, students who already have a degree and are interested in gaining an advanced qualification should consider top MBA programs like the ones offered at the University of Chicago (Booth School of Business), Harvard Business School, the University of Virginia (Darden School of Business), and Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management).

Other places to take Business Classes

It is also possible to gain a business qualification without attending college or getting a university degree. Vocational schools, community colleges, and trade schools all over the United States offer students an opportunity to engage in vocational training and gain a valuable non-degree qualification. Typically, business vocational training programs last between 12 and 24 months and focus on specific areas of business practice, such as office management, accounting, marketing, and human resources.